Football journalist Dean Jones has been speaking on the latest episode of Touchline Talk to discuss Everton’s signing of Dele Alli.
The Toffees sealed the signing of the 25-year-old on Deadline Day, with Jones believing a big part of the deal came down to the conversations he had with Frank Lampard.
Will Lampard get Dele back to his best?
Yes
No
Everton appointed Lampard just hours before announcing the signing of Dele, with the former Tottenham Hotspur man joining on a two-and-a-half-year deal.
It is believed Newcastle United made a late approach for the midfielder having failed in their attempts to sign Jesse Lingard from Manchester United.
And it seems the conversations Dele had with the new Everton manager proved to be a real factor in his decision-making over the move to Goodison Park:
“I think that that’s the one that is the real game-changer and potentially can turn around everything for them. Anyone that’s seen Dele recently, or even over the past year, really, can see that he’s not himself; he’s not the same footballer or doesn’t even seem to be the same personality on the pitch, to be honest with you.
“So he needs to get all of that back – refind himself. And who better than Frank Lampard, who literally made his name in the Premier League from playing a very similar style of football to Dele.
“I think that from conversations they had, Dele was left in no doubt that if anybody can get him on the right track right now, it’s Frank Lampard.”
TIF Thoughts on Dele to Everton…
Dele has experienced a few really trying seasons at Spurs, with his game time taking a real hit amid his decline in form in front of goal (via Transfermarkt).
The 25-year-old has had seasons where he has recorded double figures in goals in the Premier League, however, he has failed to make a real impact in attack over the last couple of years.
In Lampard, Dele will have the guidance of the Premier League’s highest-scoring midfielder, which should be a huge confidence boost for the 25-year-old.
Over the years, Dele has been played in multiple different roles at Spurs, and we are interested to see how Lampard will use him in the Everton side having also signed Donny van de Beek in January.
In other news: ‘Certainly, there’s an interest’ – Reliable journalist drops big Everton transfer update